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Mustad Hooks – 802

Mustad 802 hook silhouette
Hook Reference › O. Mustad & Son Hooks › Mustad Hooks – 802

O. Mustad & Son 802

Mustad 8021925 or later

Evidence reviewed October 13, 2026. Marks: P photographically · V verified · I inferred · E estimated · S speculative What they mean

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Summary

The Mustad 802 is a ringed-eye hook of the Kirby pattern, boxed by O. Mustad & SÖN, Oslo, Norway, under the label ‘Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks, Qual. 802’. The documented specimen is a box of size No. 4 hooks marked ‘Ringed Bronzed’ and ‘3 ex. strong’, with the Key Brand trademark.

The label line ‘Superior’ names the Superior point I, and the point on the photographed hooks has a nearly straight gap-facing edge P. The label reads OSLO, so the box was printed on or after 1 January 1925 I.

The photographs do not show whether the point is offset sideways, and no source opened for this entry dates the box more closely.

Photographic record

4 photographs

Mustad 802 — cardboard slider box with green printed label showing Key Brand logo and eight-line Mustad label format — size No. 4 — bronzed Kirby hooks
IMG-1Mustad 802 Kirby Hooks Size 4 Original Box and Label Box for Mustad Qual. 802, size No. 4. The green label reads Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks, Ringed Bronzed, 3 ex. strong and Made in Norway, with the Key Brand skeleton key at the left.

How to identify it

On the green label, look for ‘Qual. 802’ on the fourth line, ‘Superior’ on the line below it, and ‘Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks’ in large type under that P. The Key Brand skeleton key stands at the left, and ‘100’ and ‘No. 4’ print at the bottom left, with ‘802’ and ‘4’ in heavier ink than the text around them P.

On the hook, check for a closed ring eye in line with the shank, a plain straight shank, one cut barb and a dark bronze-brown finish P.

Technical profile and measurements

Features of the model, as recorded
FeatureRecordedEvidence
EyeBall Eye, Straight / Inline
Show noteHide note

Closed ring eye in line with the shank. The wire end is turned back onto the shank neck, leaving a rounded stub at the left of the ring P.

OBS-1
WireExtra-Heavy (2X+), est. ~0.92 mm (E), grid estimate from photographsOBS-2MEA-7
ShankStandard — Plain
BendKirby (offset), Standard gap, Offset / kirbed
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Bend is a smooth, continuous curve from shank to point arm, with no angular corner P. Sideways offset of the point cannot be judged from the flat photographs P.

OBS-3OBS-6
PointSuperior
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One short, triangular cut barb, tip angled back toward the eye, on the gap-facing side near the start of the point taper. No second barb or microbarbs P.

LBL-6OBS-4OBS-5
FinishBronzed — stated on packaging
Show noteHide note

The label states bronzed. The photographed hooks show a dark bronze-brown glossy finish with gold-brown highlights on the bend and point P. The coating type is not identifiable.

LBL-8OBS-7

The label states the wire strength as ‘3 ex. strong’ P. The shank is straight and plain, with even thickness and no ridges or kinks P. The wire cross-section is not visible in the photographs, so the wire profile is not recorded.

The point tapers to a tip. Its gap-facing edge runs nearly straight from the barb root to the tip, with a narrow flat facet along that side P, consistent with the Superior point named on the label I.

Measurements

Per size, with how each dimension was taken
SizeOverall lengthShank lengthGap widthBend depthWire diameterWeightShank:gap
4Specimen S122.6 mm EcaliperMEA-116.3 mm Egrid photoMEA-3 Check: The evidence record measured 16.3 mm (MEA-3).7.1 mm EcaliperMEA-2 Check: The evidence record measured 7.11 mm (MEA-2).9 mm Egrid photoMEA-4 Check: The evidence record measured 9 mm (MEA-4).1.05 mm PcaliperMEA-7—~2.2-2.4 : 1
Calibrated SVG True-scale preview

How hook dimensions are measuredA hook outline with dimension lines for overall length, shank length, gap, bend depth, and wire diameter.Overall lengthShank lengthGapBend depthWire diameter
Overall length
Eye to the farthest point of the bend.
Shank length
Eye to the start of the bend.
Gap
Point to shank, at right angles to the shank.
Bend depth
Shank to the bottom of the bend.
Wire diameter
Across the wire, measured by caliper where possible.

Specimens, packaging, and label

This record documents one specimen. It describes that specimen only, not every example of the model.

White-wrapped box top with a green label framed by star devices, a black skeleton key at left, and lines of black text from O. MUSTAD & SÖN to Made in Norway.
Open full size

S1 · Box of size No. 4, Qual. 802

Size
4 (printed on the label)
Container
Box
Hook condition
Hooks photographed loose show a dark bronze-brown glossy finish with no rust, pitting or bending. Scattered pale specks, fine light hairline marks on the bend and point arm, and small pale nicks on an outer edge are visible.
Packaging condition
Good — moderate wear, legible
Wear
label, left of key picture bow: Pale green arc-shaped stain with light fibres, running from the left border toward the key bow. LBL-12
Wear
label, behind Qual. 802: Yellow-green blotchy stain behind Qual. and 802, and a fine pale scratch crossing the 0 and 2 of 802; digits remain legible. LBL-13
Wear
label, right edge and lower right corner: Darker green mottling along the right border and bottom-right corner; narrower darker strips along the top and left label edges. LBL-14
Wear
box wrapper, left of label beside 100: Small orange-brown speck on the white wrapper. LBL-15
Wear
box right end, lower half: Brown staining on the tan card edge beside the wrapper edge; edge slightly rough. LBL-16
Measured
size 4
Photographs
IMG-1IMG-2IMG-3IMG-4

Only the top face is shown. The white wrapper has light toning, a few dark specks near the top edge and faint creasing. The label carries a pale green arc-shaped stain left of the key bow, a yellow-green blotchy stain behind 'Qual. 802' with a fine pale scratch across the 0 and 2 of 802, and darker green mottling along the label edges; all text stays legible. A small orange-brown speck sits on the wrapper beside the '100' line, and brown staining marks the card edge at the right end. The box is closed, so contents and fill count are not visible. The loose hooks photographed are assigned to this specimen as probable, not certain.

What the label says

LBL-1 trademark · label, left column, above and below key picture from IMG-1
Key
Brand
LBL-2 printed · label, top line, right of key picture from IMG-1
O. MUSTAD & SÖN
LBL-3 printed · label, second line from IMG-1
Manufacturers
LBL-4 printed · label, third line from IMG-1
OSLO - NORWAY
LBL-5 printed · label, fourth line from IMG-1
Qual. 802
LBL-6 printed · label, fifth line from IMG-1
Superior
LBL-7 printed · label, sixth line, large type from IMG-1
Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks
LBL-8 printed · label, seventh line from IMG-1
Ringed Bronzed
LBL-9 printed · label, eighth line from IMG-1
3 ex. strong
LBL-10 printed · label, bottom left from IMG-1
100
No. 4
LBL-11 printed · label, bottom line, right from IMG-1
Made in Norway
Trademark
Black pictogram of a skeleton key, bow at the top with a pinched double-lobed opening, shaft pointing down, bit at lower right with a small square notch; the word Key sits above it and Brand below. An ornamental border of eight-pointed snowflake or star devices runs around all four sides of the green label.
As entered on the specimen record
Key
Brand
O. MUSTAD & SÖN
Manufacturers
OSLO - NORWAY
Qual. 802
Superior
Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks
Ringed Bronzed
3 ex. strong
100
No. 4
Made in Norway
Layout
Green label with a border of eight-pointed star devices. The Key trademark sits in the left column, with 'Key' above the key picture and 'Brand' below. The company, address, model code, point, pattern, finish and strength lines run down the centre; '100' and 'No. 4' print at the bottom left and 'Made in Norway' at the bottom right.
Typeface
'802' and '4' print in heavier black ink than the rest of the label text P.
Printed marks
None beyond the printed label text; no stamps visible.
Later marks
None visible on the top face.

Care of this specimen: Keep the box dry and out of strong light. Hold it by the edges and avoid sliding the label against other paper, since it carries stains and a scratch.

Condition

Hooks show no rust, pitting or bending P. Scattered pale specks and fine light hairline marks appear on the bend and point arm, and small pale nicks on an outer edge P.

Pattern history and manufacturer context

Series

The box label names the line ‘Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks’ and the model code ‘Qual. 802’ P. Mustad lists a Best Kirby Hook today under model 1521, a different model whose page says nothing about the Qual. 802 V.

No catalog, price list or dated listing for Qual. 802 was found, so its production dates and range of sizes are not established. Only size No. 4 is documented here.

Design lineage

Britannica identifies Charles Kirby as the English inventor of the Kirby bend and describes it as a shape with an offset point V. A museum history places his hook shop in Harp Alley, London, in 1650 and records that Kirby hooks were exported worldwide in the eighteenth century V.

The label names the 802 as a Kirby hook P. The photographs do not show whether the point of this hook is offset, so that feature of the Kirby bend is not recorded for the 802.

Dating

The label reads OSLO - NORWAY. Kristiania became Oslo on 1 January 1925, so the label was printed on or after that date I. No source opened for this entry dates the Key Brand green-label format more closely.

O. Mustad & Son — Mustad's roots go back to 1832 in Vardal, Norway. The firm became O. Mustad and later O. Mustad & Søn, and has made fishing tackle since 1877 V. Read the maker’s history →
A Machine Kept Secret. Mustad did not patent the automatic hook machine built by Mathias Topp. The firm kept it secret instead V.

Use

  • Wet fly
  • Nymph
  • Streamer / bucktail
  • Bait fishing

Primary application

The box label names no application. No catalog, price list or dated listing opened for this entry assigns Qual. 802 to a type of fishing or fly pattern.

Collecting and buying

No rating is given for Qual. 802. The evidence on file holds no recorded sales, listing counts or collector sources for it, and searches found no catalog entry or listing for the model code.

Only one box, size No. 4, is documented. Whether Qual. 802 was packed in other sizes or packagings is not recorded, and no sale of any size is on file.

Market value

Insufficient recorded sales data to estimate a reliable value.

0 sold observations recorded; 2 are needed, with the basis and date of the range, before a value is shown. Asking prices are shown as asking prices only.

No recorded sold sales are on file for Qual. 802, so the page cannot state a supported value range.

Recorded sales and listings
ListingPriceDateCondition
102 Vintage Mustad 802 Size 9 Kirby 3 ex Strong Bronze Fly Hook - NOSFrom $5.99 askinglive listingNew
100 MUSTAD #4 FLY TYING BEST KIRBY FISHING HOOKS RINGED BRONZED 3X STRONG 802From $11.99 askinglive listingNew other (see details)

Where to find

No dealer, auction or listing source for Qual. 802 is recorded.

Label and source analysis

Reading the Qual. 802 Label

Source: Box label of the size No. 4 specimen (S1)

The company line reads ‘O. MUSTAD & SÖN’, followed by ‘Manufacturers’ and ‘OSLO – NORWAY’ P. Kristiania became Oslo on 1 January 1925 V, so a label naming Oslo was printed on or after that date I.

‘Qual. 802’ is a three-digit model code P. ‘Superior’ on the next line names the Superior point I, and ‘Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks’ names the pattern P.

‘Ringed Bronzed’ and ‘3 ex. strong’ state the eye type, finish and wire strength; the label does not define ‘ex. strong’ P. ‘No. 4’ gives the hook size P, ‘100’ reads as the box count I, and ‘Made in Norway’ closes the text P.

Modern equivalents and related hooks

Modern equivalents
HookMatchNotes
Mustad 2330 Kirby Sea HookModerateMustad lists the 2330 as its Kirby Sea Hook, with a ringed eye and a needle point V. The page states no wire strength, so a match to 3 ex. strong wire is not established.
Gamakatsu F10 OffsetGoodModern offset point design with similar functional advantages to Kirby; contemporary materials and finish but different bend profile.
Owner Mutu Light OffsetModerateOffset point design; lighter wire gauge than Mustad 802 and intended for different applications (light saltwater).
Mustad Best Kirby Hook 1521ModerateMustad's current Best Kirby Hook, model 1521, carries the same line name as the 802 label. Its page lists a Kirbed Point attribute and describes a needle point V; it states no wire strength comparable to 3 ex. strong.

Best matchRelated by Attribute

Computed automatically from catalog data — updated as new hooks are added.

SilhouetteHook ModelMatchAnalysisCompare
3139 D No. 11 — 3139 D silhouette3139 D No. 11 — 3139 D79%Matches: Bend, Wire, Eye, Eye Orient., Point +4 moreDiffers: Shank: Standard vs 1X Long; Gap: Standard vs Narrow; Finish: Bronzed vs Gold-Plated +3 moreCompare
2320 No. 6 — Mustad-Kirby Sea Hooks silhouette2320 No. 6 — Mustad-Kirby Sea Hooks78%Matches: Bend, Wire, Gap, Eye, Eye Orient. +5 moreDiffers: Shank: Standard vs 2X Long; Finish: Bronzed vs Blued; Application: Wet Fly, Nymph, Streamer, Bait vs Saltwater +2 moreCompare
3819 No. 6 — 3819 Kirby Flatted silhouette3819 No. 6 — 3819 Kirby Flatted75%Matches: Bend, Shank, Gap, Point, Finish +3 moreDiffers: Wire: Extra-Heavy (2X+) vs Heavy (1X Heavy); Eye: Ball Eye vs Blind — Flatted; Eye Orient.: Straight / Inline vs N/A — Blind +3 moreCompare
3138 ST No. 6/0 — Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks silhouette3138 ST No. 6/0 — Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks74%Matches: Bend, Shank, Gap, Eye, Eye Orient. +4 moreDiffers: Wire: Extra-Heavy (2X+) vs Heavy (1X Heavy); Finish: Bronzed vs Tinned; Application: Wet Fly, Nymph, Streamer, Bait vs Bait, Saltwater +2 moreCompare
3135 No. (unspecified) — 3135 Best Kirby Hooks silhouette3135 No. (unspecified) — 3135 Best Kirby Hooks74%Matches: Bend, Shank, Gap, Eye, Eye Orient. +4 moreDiffers: Wire: Extra-Heavy (2X+) vs Standard; Finish: Bronzed vs Black Japanned; Application: Wet Fly, Nymph, Streamer, Bait vs Bait +2 moreCompare

ExploratoryRelated by Shape (SVG)

Ranked purely by silhouette geometry — attribute labels are ignored.

SilhouetteHook ModelMatchCompare
2320 No. 6 — Mustad-Kirby Sea Hooks silhouette2320 No. 6 — Mustad-Kirby Sea Hooks81%Compare
3143 No. 4 — Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks silhouette3143 No. 4 — Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks79%Compare
1505 No. 4 — Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks silhouette1505 No. 4 — Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks74%Compare
7947 A No. 6 — Mustad 7947 A silhouette7947 A No. 6 — Mustad 7947 A71%Compare
3337 No. 9 — Mustad 3337 Superior Sneck Hooks silhouette3337 No. 9 — Mustad 3337 Superior Sneck Hooks69%Compare

Sources, open questions, and record notes

Sources & Documentation

This specimen and its packaging — photographed, 4 images
Supports: pointwireconstructionsub brandquantity per packageeyebendbarbfinishcondition notesoverall lengthgap widthmeasurement notesdating rangepackagingsecondary applicationsfly patternsmeta titlemeta descriptionprimary search termssummaryidentificationtechnical notesseries historydesign lineageprimary applicationcollectability detail

Entry last updated June 9, 2026. Entries are updated as new specimens, measurements, or documents come to light.